Method for mounting a sleeve on a shaft and a sleeve device for such mounting

ABSTRACT

A method for mounting an axially split sleeve provided with an axial slot on a shaft so that a tapering surface on the sleeve cooperates with a tapering bore of a machine member. A flange is axially connected to the sleeve and supports a number of spaced apart tightening devices that are to be urged against the machine member for mutually displacing the machine member and the sleeve to increase the grip between the shaft, the sleeve and the machine member. The method involves positioning the sleeve around the shaft with the annular flange positioned with its tightening devices against the machine member, tightening a first one of the tightening devices which is located at a position diametrically opposite the slot in the sleeve, and thereafter tightening further ones of the tightening devices one by one.

[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§ 119 with respect to Swedish Application No. 0103821-5 filed on Nov.16, 2001, the entire content of which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to shaft mounted sleeves.More particularly, the present invention pertains to a method for,mounting an axially, longitudinally split sleeve on a shaft and a sleevedevice to be used with such a mounting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Axially split sleeves have been used, for example, to attachmachine members, such as wheels, sprockets and bearing inner rings, onshafts or other substantially cylindrical machine elements. An exampleof this is described in Swedish Patentskrift No. 512 651, the entirecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference. This documentdescribes a bearing which, via a split sleeve, is attached to a shaft.The outer peripheral surface of the sleeve has a generally taperingsaw-tooth-shape. A flange is associated with the sleeve and has axiallyextending through-holes, each of which receives a set-screw intended tobe tightened against a machine member, which in the embodiment shown isa bearing inner race ring having an inner peripheral surface. Thetightening of the set-screw causes a mutual axial displacement of themachine member and sleeve, thereby causing an increased grip between theshaft, the sleeve and the machine member.

[0004] Experience has shown that the order in which the screws aretightened can have an affect on the performance of the joint because arandom tightening under later rotation can result in vibrations in thesleeve which may be somewhat difficult to handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] One aspect involves a method for mounting a sleeve having anaxially extending slot defining a longitudinally split sleeve on a shaftto cooperate with a machine member, with the sleeve being tapered tocooperate with the machine member having a correspondingly taperingbore. A radially extending annular flange is axially connected to thesleeve and supports a number of circumferentially spaced aparttightening devices to be pressed against the machine member to producemutual displacement of the machine member and the sleeve to increase thegrip between the shaft, the sleeve and the machine member. The methodinvolves positioning the sleeve around the shaft with the annular flangepositioned against the machine member, tightening a first one of thetightening devices which is located at a first position locateddiametrically opposite to the slot in the sleeve to press the firsttightening device against the machine member, and thereafter tighteningadditional ones of the tightening devices, one by one, which are atpositions circumferentially spaced from the first position. The methodreduces vibrations in the mounted joint during later rotary operation.

[0006] According to another aspect, a method for fixing a machine memberhaving a tapering inner bore on a shaft having an outer surface involvespositioning a sleeve device around the shaft, with the sleeve devicecomprising a sleeve and a flange axially engaged with the sleeve. Thesleeve is positioned between the outer surface of the shaft and thetapering inner bore of the machine member, and the sleeve has a taperingouter surface cooperating with the tapering inner bore of the mountingmember. The sleeve also has a longitudinal slot to define a splitsleeve. A plurality of screws are tightened, one by one, into respectivethrough-holes in the flange to press the screws against the machinemember and effect mutual displacement of the tapering surfaces of themachine member and the sleeve to increase a grip between the shaft, thesleeve and the machine member. The first of the screws which istightened is located closest to a position which is diametricallyopposite the slot in the sleeve.

[0007] Another aspect pertains to a sleeve device adapted to be mountedon a shaft together with a machine member to fix the machine member onthe shaft. The sleeve device includes an axially extending sleeve havingan axially extending slot defining a split sleeve, with the sleevehaving a tapering outer surface adapted to cooperate with an innertapering surface on the machine member. A radially extending annularflange is axially connected to the sleeve and supports a number ofcircumferentially spaced apart tightening devices adapted to be urged topress against the machine member for effecting mutual displacement ofthe machine member and the sleeve to increase a grip between the shaft,the sleeve and the machine member. The sleeve and the flange havecooperating elements which prevent relative angular movements betweenthe sleeve and the flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0008] The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription considered with reference to the accompanying drawingfigures in which like reference numerals designate like elements.

[0009]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bearing unit attached to ashaft by way of a mounting sleeve device according to the presentinvention.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the split sleeve and theassociated flange.

[0011]FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of the circledportion of the sleeve and flange designated III in FIG. 2.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a detailed end view of a part of the sleeve and flangeaccording to an alternative embodiment of the sleeve device.

[0013] FIGS. 5-8 schematically illustrate a method for mounting thesleeve device in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014]FIG. 1 schematically illustrates in cross-section a so calledinsert bearing 1 attached to a shaft 2 by way of a sleeve device 3. Thebearing unit arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is similar to the bearing unitdescribed in Swedish Patentskrift No. 512 651 and includes an innerbearing ring, an outer bearing ring and roller elements arranged betweenthe inner and outer bearing rings as shown in FIG. 1.

[0015] The sleeve device 3 includes a sleeve 4 and a radially outwardlyextending annular flange 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve 4has a tapering outer peripheral or envelope surface which in theillustrated embodiment is defined by a number of consecutively arrangedsaw-tooth-shaped tapering surface portions. The tapering surface of thesleeve 4 cooperates with a complementary tapering inner bore surface ofthe inner bearing ring forming a part of the machine member. In theillustrated embodiment, the complementary tapering inner bore surface ofthe machine part is also defined by saw-tooth-shaped tapering surfaceportions. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 1, the sleeve 4 issplit, preferably with an axially extending slot.

[0016] One axial end of the sleeve 4 is axially engaged with orconnected to the annular flange 5 which has a larger radial size (e.g.,diameter) than the sleeve 4. The flange 5 has several threadedthrough-holes for receiving tightening devices 6. In the illustratedembodiment, the tightening devices are in the form of set-screws and thethrough-holes are inclined inwardly relative to the axial direction asillustrated in FIG. 1. The tightening devices 6 are arranged to extendthrough the through-holes and, upon tightening, press against themachine member that is to be attached to the shaft 2, i.e. the innerbearing ring of the insert bearing 1. This causes an axial displacementbetween the inner bearing ring and the sleeve 4, which results in anincreased grip between the shaft 2, the sleeve 4 and the inner bearingring due to the mutual motion of the cooperating tapering surfaces.

[0017] The cooperating tapering surfaces need not necessarily have asaw-tooth-shape, but each surface can form a single tapering portion. Inaddition, although the tightening devices 6 are shown as set screwsextending through bores or through-holes that are inclined to the axialdirection, it is of course possible that the tightening devices can bescrews arranged in axially extending bores or other arrangements.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sleeve device 3 andillustrates the longitudinally or axially extending slot 7 in the sleeve4 that forms the split sleeve configuration. FIG. 2 also illustrates theseries of consecutively arranged saw-tooth-shaped surface portions 8 onthe outer surface of the sleeve 4. In addition, in the illustratedembodiment, the annular flange 5 has three tightening devices or screws6 arranged at evenly space circumferential intervals.

[0019] As better illustrated in the FIG. 3 detailed view of a portion ofthe sleeve device 3, the inner edge of the annular flange 5 has a flatnib, tab or projection 9. This flat nib 9 projects inwardly and ispositioned in the slot 7, thereby limiting the possibility that thesleeve 4 and the flange 5 will move in the circumferential directionrelative to each other. In this embodiment, the flat nib 9 is positioneddiametrically opposite to one of the tightening devices 6. Thispositioning of the flat nib 9 helps ensure that one of the threetightening devices 6 will not be situated at the position of the slot 7.

[0020]FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a portion of the sleeve device 3according to an alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, the sleeve 4and the flange 5 are prevented from experiencing more than very smallmutual movements in the circumferential direction by virtue of a flatnib, tab or projection 10 projecting radially outwardly from the surfaceof the sleeve 4. This radially outwardly projecting flat nib 10 ispositioned in a recess 11 in the inner edge of the annular flange 5. Ascan be seen, the recess 11 is positioned adjacent or in circumferentialalignment with one of the tightening devices 6.

[0021] Although both illustrated embodiments of the sleeve device areequipped with interacting mechanisms for preventing free angularmovement of the sleeve and the flange relative to each other, it is notnecessary that such mechanisms be provided, although the provision of anib entering into the slot of the sleeve or into a recess in the flangehelps facilitates the handling of the sleeve device during mountingoperations.

[0022] FIGS. 5-8 schematically illustrate four consecutive stepsassociated with the mounting operation. FIG. 5 shows the initialposition, with the shaft 2 in cross-section, and the sleeve 4 arrangedabout the shaft so that the slot 7 in the sleeve 4 faces upwards. It isto be understood that the other features and details illustrated in FIG.1 such as the machine member are not illustrated in FIGS. 5-8 forpurposes of simplifying the illustration and description. For example,it is recognized that the sleeve device 3 is positioned around the shaft2 so that the sleeve 4 is between the outer surface of the shaft and thetapering inner bore of the machine element.

[0023]FIG. 6 illustrates the first step of the mounting operation. Here,the first tightening device 6 is applied at a position diametricallyopposite to the slot 7. The tightening device 6 is illustrated as anarrow marked with a reversed 2, although this mode of illustration ischosen only for purposes of simplification, it being understood that thetightening device 6 is, in the disclosed embodiment, preferably a setscrew as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and has a longitudinal directionsubstantially in the axial direction of the shaft 2.

[0024]FIG. 7 illustrates the next step in the mounting operation inwhich a second tightening device 6, marked as arrow 1, is applied.Similar to the illustration in FIG. 6, the arrow shown in FIG. 7represents a set-screw or other appropriate tightening device which ispositioned in the same manner as shown for example in FIG. 2.

[0025] In the last step shown in FIG. 8, a third tightening device 6,represented by the arrow 3, is applied in the same manner, and themounting is then completed.

[0026] It has been found, quite surprisingly, that the relatively severeand problematic vibrations earlier experienced with a mounting of thiskind, when the machine member after mounting was subjected to rotation,has been appreciably reduced when the mounting sequence has beenperformed in accordance with the steps illustrated in FIGS. 5-8. Thissubstantially improved effect is also clearly perceptible at highrotational speeds.

[0027] It has also been found that one of the more important steps inthe mounting method is that the first tightening device 6 is applied ata position which is diametrically opposed to the slot 7 in the splitsleeve 4. Of course, diametrically opposite is also understood toinclude positions which may not be precisely diametrically opposite theslot, but are slightly spaced from such position. The order in which theother tightening devices 6 (e.g. the other two tightening devices) areapplied is not necessarily critical, and no significant provabledifferences have been found if either of the tightening devices 6 markedby arrow 1 or arrow 3 is mounted after the one tightening device 6(i.e., the tightening device 6 indicated by the arrow with a reversed 2)is provided diametrically opposite to the slot 7.

[0028] As described above, the sleeve 4 and the flange 5 havecooperating features or elements for preventing their mutual angularmovement relative to each other except for a very short movement amountpermitted by the play between the cooperating features. By virtue ofthis limited mutual mobility in the circumferential direction, it ispossible to ascertain that the position of the first tightening device 6is not mistakenly angularly displaced by from its desired positionopposite to the slot in the sleeve by more than a few degrees.

[0029] The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation ofthe present invention have been described in the foregoingspecification. However, the invention which is intended to be protectedis not to be construed as limited to the particular embodimentsdisclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regardedas illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may bemade by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from thespirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intendedthat all such variations, changes and equivalents which fall within thespirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims, beembraced thereby.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for mounting a sleeve having an axiallyextending slot defining a longitudinally split sleeve on a shaft tocooperate with a machine member, the sleeve being tapered to cooperatewith the machine member having a correspondingly tapering bore, andincluding a radially extending annular flange axially connected to thesleeve and supporting a number of circumferentially spaced aparttightening devices to be pressed against the machine member to producemutual displacement of the machine member and the sleeve to increase thegrip between the shaft, the sleeve and the machine member, the methodcomprising: positioning the sleeve around the shaft with the annularflange positioned against the machine member; tightening a first one ofthe tightening devices disposed at a first position diametricallyopposite to the slot in the sleeve to press the first tightening deviceagainst the machine member and mutually displace the machine member andthe sleeve to increase the grip between the shaft, the sleeve and themachine member; and thereafter tightening additional ones of thetightening devices, one by one, at positions circumferentially spacedfrom the first position.
 2. The method according to claim 1, whereinthree tightening devices evenly spaced apart in a circumferentialdirection are used.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein thetightening devices are set screws.
 4. A method for fixing a machinemember having a tapering inner bore on a shaft having an outer surfacecomprising: positioning a sleeve device around the shaft, the sleevedevice comprising a sleeve and a flange axially engaged with the sleeve,the sleeve being positioned between the outer surface of the shaft andthe tapering inner bore of the machine member, the sleeve having atapering outer surface cooperating with the tapering inner bore of themounting member, the sleeve having a longitudinal slot to define a splitsleeve; tightening a plurality of screws, one by one, into respectivethrough-holes in the flange to press the screws against the machinemember and effect mutual displacement of the tapering surfaces of themachine member and the sleeve to increase a grip between the shaft, thesleeve and the machine member; the plurality of screws including onescrew located diametrically opposite the slot in the sleeve; and a firstof the screws which is tightened being the one screw locateddiametrically opposite to the slot in the sleeve.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein one of the sleeve and the flange isprovided with a projection and the other of the sleeve and the flange isprovided with a portion engaged by the projection to limit relativecircumferential movement of the sleeve and the flange.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein the tightening of the plurality of screwsinvolves tightening three screws into respective through-holes in theflange.
 7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the machine memberis an insert bearing.
 8. A sleeve device adapted to be mounted on ashaft together with a machine member to fix the machine member on theshaft, comprising: an axially extending sleeve having an axiallyextending slot defining a split sleeve, said sleeve having a taperingouter surface adapted to cooperate with an inner tapering surface on themachine member; a radially extending annular flange axially connected tothe sleeve and supporting a number of circumferentially spaced aparttightening devices adapted to be urged to press against the machinemember for effecting mutual displacement of the machine member and thesleeve to increase a grip between the shaft, the sleeve and the machinemember; and the sleeve and the flange have cooperating elements whichprevent relative angular movements between the sleeve and the flange. 9.The sleeve device according to claim 8, wherein the cooperating elementsinclude a tab projecting radially inwardly from an inner edge of theannular flange and a slot in the split sleeve, the tab projecting intothe slot to prevent relative angular movement between sleeve and theflange.
 10. The sleeve device according to claim 8, wherein thecooperating elements include a tab projecting radially outwardly from anouter surface of the sleeve at a position circumferentially spaced apartfrom the slot, and a recess in an the inner edge of the annular flange,the tab projecting into the recess to prevent relative angular movementbetween the sleeve and the flange.
 11. The sleeve device according toclaim 8, wherein the tightening devices are screws each positioned in arespective through-hole in the flange.
 12. The sleeve device accordingto claim 8, wherein one of the through-holes in the flange is positioneddiametrically opposite the slot in the split sleeve.